Oud Metha, Karama, Zabeel Park and the Dubai Frame

A residents' Dubai: St. Mary's parish in Oud Metha, Karama's tailors and cheap eateries, then across into Zabeel Park and up the Dubai Frame for views over old and new Dubai.

Best time: October-April; in summer (May-September) Dubai is extremely hot and humid, so walk early morning or after sunset and use the indoor stops.

The route, stop by stop

1. 1
   St. Mary's Catholic Church

   Busy Catholic parish; masses in many languages. 15 min

   One of only two Catholic churches in Dubai, begun on land obtained in 1965 and rebuilt in 1989; with more than 350,000 parishioners it is described as the largest Catholic parish…

2. 2
   Al Karama

   Tailors, laundries and places to eat. 60 min

   One of Dubai's older, most central and most populous districts, where residents from across the city come for tailoring, laundry, dining and shopping.

3. 3
   Zabeel Park

   Jogging track, lake and picnic lawns. 45 min

   One of the city's largest and busiest parks, used for sport and live music, with a 2.5 km perimeter jogging track, BMX and skate park, boating lake and barbecue areas.

4. 4
   Dubai Frame

   Sky deck views north and south. 60 min

   A 150 m picture frame in Zabeel Park, opened in January 2018, whose sky deck looks north over old Dubai and south to the new city.

Walking directions

More walks in Dubai

• Al Fahidi lanes to the Bur Dubai souk1.7 km · 3 h 35 min
• Bur Dubai creekside to Al Shindagha2.1 km · 3 h 25 min
• Deira souks and Al Ras2.6 km · 3 h 15 min
• Safa Park to the Jumeirah heritage sites3.8 km · 2 h 45 min
• Downtown: Burj Khalifa to the Museum of the Future4 km · 3 h 15 min